You should generally avoid kissing someone with contagious pink eye (conjunctivitis), as viral and bacterial types spread easily through close contact like kissing, touching infected eyes, or sharing items, making a kiss a high-risk way to catch it. Since it's hard to tell the cause (viral, bacterial, or allergic) and allergic pink eye isn't contagious, it's safest to treat all pink eye as potentially infectious by avoiding close contact and practicing strict hygiene.
If you are around someone with pink eye
If someone has viral or bacterial pink eye, you can be around them if you wash hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, and avoid sharing personal items.
How long is pinkeye contagious? Viral or bacterial pinkeye is contagious. Viral pink eye is contagious before symptoms appear and for as long as symptoms are present. Bacterial pink eye is contagious as long as someone is symptomatic, if there is discharge from the eye, or until 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis normally causes a yellow or green sticky discharge throughout the day. They will feel itchy, and the eyelids may become swollen. Viral Conjunctivitis normally causes a watery discharge during the day and present with sticky discharge in the morning. The eyelids may become very swollen.
You can get pink eye from: Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands. Contact with droplets from the air after an infected coughs or sneezes. Touching objects and surfaces with germs on them, then touching your eyes before washing your hands.
Myth 9: It's ok to share bedding and towels when you have pink eye. Fact: If you have viral pink eye, you should not share a bed or towel with anyone until the eye heals. Use a clean towel or tissue every time you touch your face or eyes and replace your pillowcase daily.
Put cold or warm wet cloths on your eye a few times a day if the eye hurts. Do not wear contact lenses or eye makeup until the pink eye is gone. Throw away any eye makeup you were using when you got pink eye. Clean your contacts and storage case.
You can catch conjunctivitis from droplets from the eyes, mouth and throat of an infective person. This can happen through touch, coughing or sneezing. You can also catch it from contact with objects that were contaminated with infectious eye secretions, such as towels, face washers and tissues.
Another thing “that you can do if you're worried about surfaces that you're touching: use a bleach-based cleaner,” Dr. Ingraham said. Widely available wipes and sprays “that are based with bleach that will kill most of the viruses on surfaces.”
The pink eye virus can last on surfaces from several hours to a few days, depending on the type of surface and environmental conditions. Non-porous surfaces like metal and plastic can hold the virus longer, sometimes up to 48 hours, while porous surfaces like fabric may see the virus last less than 24 hours.
To get rid of pink eye fast, identify the cause: viral pink eye needs time and compresses/artificial tears for comfort, bacterial might need antibiotics from a doctor, and allergic cases respond to allergy drops/antihistamines, while always using clean compresses, stopping contact lens wear, and practicing hygiene prevents spreading it.
Pink eye can develop overnight through the spread of a bacterial or viral infection as you sleep.
Most cases of viral pink eye are mild. It usually clears up in 7 to 14 days without treatment and without any long-term consequences. However, in some cases, viral conjunctivitis can take 2 to 3 weeks or more to clear up.
For viral pink eye, you may be contagious for up to 7–10 days from the first appearance of symptoms. To reduce the spread: Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes.
Good hygiene — including hand-washing, avoiding close contact with others, and not sharing towels or pillowcases — is important. It may be okay to return to school or child care if your child does not have a fever, can practice good hygiene, and can avoid close contact with others.
The incubation period for viral conjunctivitis is up to a week. The infection may last up to two weeks. In bacterial pink eye, the incubation period can be as little as a few days. A bacterial infection typically lasts up to a week when treated with antibiotics.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are common bacterial STIs that can cause conjunctivitis (pink eye). The infection gets into the eye either directly through genital fluids such as semen, or when infected people rub their eyes after touching infected genital areas. These infections can be treated with antibiotics.
Change pillowcases daily while infection is active. Don't share personal items, such as washcloths, medications, makeup or eyeglasses. Be sure to throw away eye drops, solutions or eye makeup that were used while the family was infected.
Viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious and can spread through direct contact, shared items, or respiratory droplets. In contrast, allergic pink eye is not contagious. Practicing good hygiene and avoiding close contact can help prevent the spread.
Stages of bacterial pink eye
A typical bacterial case may start like viral pink eye, with slight irritation and redness. Then drainage in the form of pus will become noticeable. This is usually white, yellow or yellow-green in color. As it dries, it will leave a crusty film on the eyelids.
Mild cases of bacterial conjunctivitis can get better on its own without antibiotics. But, in most cases, you should get antibiotic treatment. This can help symptoms go away faster and prevent more serious eye infections. Most people only need treatment with antibiotic eye drops to cure their infection.
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, causes swelling and redness in the inside of your eyelid and the white part of your eye. Your eye may also feel itchy and painful.